Laser Declawing...Better?

My family has been debating whether or not we should get our cat declawed. The humanity of declawing a cat is apparently quite controversial, but as we don't want to give away our beloved pet since she is a rabid and notorious furniture destroyer and absolutely won't let me trim her claws, we've seriously considered declawing her.

The traditional method of declawing, from what I know, causes a cat quite a bit of pain, has a long healing period, and will hinder a cat's mobility for a while. Our vet recommends laser declawing, which is less purportedly less painful. I'm still hesistant because laser or not, declawing a cat is still akin to slicing off the tip of my own fingers and most of all, I'm worried that declawing my cat will permanently change the rambunctious playful personality that I love about her.

I'd appreciate some advice from cat owners and esp those who have had their own cats declawed. Thanks!

Laser declawing is less bloody, but still extremely painful. Declawing a cat is actually removing part of their toes. This makes cats bite more and gives them balance problems. If they ever get outside, you've robbed them of their chief defense. I would suggest that you get something called soft claws or soft paws. These cover their claws so they can't to the damage. Also, vets usually will trim cats' claws for a price. Good luck!

Charlotte wrote:

Laser declawing is less bloody, but still extremely painful. Declawing a cat is actually removing part of their toes. This makes cats bite more and gives them balance problems. If they ever get outside, you've robbed them of their chief defense. I would suggest that you get something called soft claws or soft paws. These cover their claws so they can't to the damage. Also, vets usually will trim cats' claws for a price. Good luck!

about five months ago i had my teeth cleaned by a dentist who used laser cleaning...i have never had so much pain caused by a dentist in my life...now my teeth are all loose and my jaw feels awfull... they can keep their laser guns in the holster as far as i am concerned.. wouldnt let them touch my cat with it either...

Anyone who declaws a cat is a senseless, thoughtless, selfish, sadistic, monster who is living in the dark ages... you do not deserve to blessed with the love and presence that a cat brings to a home.

I have declawed my cats but I don't think I'd do it again. I've noticed their paws are more sensitive and after what I've read and heard...it doesn't sound like it's good for the animal.

I once had a friend who wanted one of my kittens, but I wouldn't give her one because she had had her three other cats declawed. I told her if she ever declawed one of my cats I would snip off her fingertips with my wire cutters. If a decent scratching post is provided, and furniture protected by keeping the cats away from valuable pieces, and just letting them have thrift store type furniture to lounge on, one can share one's abode with these little lions. The very idea of crippling a creature to save an inanimate object is repugnant beyond words.

I think it's funny when people compare declawing to snipping off your own fingers with wire cutters. This would be similar if

a) the vet didnt anesthetize the animal before a surgical procedure
b) no medical attention was given to the animal after the procedure
c) no meds were given to make the animal comfortable.

I have no official opinion on the matter. I just think likening it to at-home surgery with wirecutters and no medical care is rediculous.

Nichole,
You can dress up mutilation with anesthesia, sterile procedure, pain management, ect, but it is still mutilation. Wire cutters paint a more graphic picture.
The next time you use your finger tips think of how nice it is to have those sensitive little digits.

PrideandPrejudice wrote:

My family has been debating whether or not we should get our cat declawed. The humanity of declawing a cat is apparently quite controversial, but as we don't want to give away our beloved pet since she is a rabid and notorious furniture destroyer and absolutely won't let me trim her claws, we've seriously considered declawing her.
The traditional method of declawing, from what I know, causes a cat quite a bit of pain, has a long healing period, and will hinder a cat's mobility for a while. Our vet recommends laser declawing, which is less purportedly less painful. I'm still hesistant because laser or not, declawing a cat is still akin to slicing off the tip of my own fingers and most of all, I'm worried that declawing my cat will permanently change the rambunctious playful personality that I love about her.
I'd appreciate some advice from cat owners and esp those who have had their own cats declawed. Thanks!

We had our cat declawed several years ago by laser and he is still a nut! I had no choice in the matter, the cat was literally crawling up my back with his nails.

I have had cats for the last 30 years, and all were declawed. Their personality never changed, they were the same before and after the surgery. Two of my cats still bought prey home to me as a present, during the time they were alive. one even brought home a full size duck, still alive. So go and get their claws removed. Vets are not inhumane people, as they use the proper anasthesia and post operation care.

Cat Lover, there's no need for name-calling. Declawing is controversial, but you're not going to win anybody over by insulting them. In fact, the way some people bully anybody who's even considering declawing is one of the main things that's turned me off the anti-declawing movement.

i am from texas and currently living in california and i have to say californians are wierd about declawing. there is nothing wrong with declawing. i dont agree with the old traditional method but i have had a cat declawed with laser and she was fine within 24 hours. her behavior didnt change and we had a long and loving relationship. she was a great cat and we never had a lick of trouble from her and better yet, she loved me back despite the loss of her claws, which i feel she had no clue she was missing....

Parents circumcise their male babies, don't they? I am sure that babies feel pain too but don't we do it because it's healthier? I feel that when you declaw your cat it's because you are commited to them for the rest of the life, they will live indoors with you till death and everyone is happier and the cat will heal in a few days and it's all forgotten...with claws destruction goes on and on and so does the anger when the cat continues to destroy...I have had cats all my life..some with claws and the last 20 years my cats have been declawed and I can truly say that it was the best thing I did...they came home and within that day or 2 they were fine and happy, jumping around, playing, and they lived happily till 18 years old...I highly recommend declawing if you are taking them into your heart and home for life...

Pam wrote:

they will live indoors with you till death

Be absolutely certain your now helpless cat will never get outside. He wont be able to climb a tree, or fight off an attacker.
I am in the no-declawing camp. My approach has been to place numerous scratching posts in my house and protect items that are tempting with covers. I would rather have a tattered couch than a tattered defenceless pet. Cats have been in my life for almost 60 years, and they have all had claws. I teach them as babies to be gentle so they don't hurt people.
Comparing male circumcision to declawing is a weak analogy. A man does benefit from the procedure, but he does not need his foreskin for self defence in battle, or to flee from attack.

Clawless in Lauderdale wrote:

I have had cats for the last 30 years, and all were declawed. Their personality never changed, they were the same before and after the surgery. Two of my cats still bought prey home to me as a present, during the time they were alive. one even brought home a full size duck, still alive. So go and get their claws removed. Vets are not inhumane people, as they use the proper anasthesia and post operation care.

Hello, so glad to find this conversation about delawing or not. Many years ago, I had my cats declawed (I think, over the years, three), and they were fine, but the talk about the pain bothered me. I haven't had my cats declawed for the last 25 or so years. I have two little guys, going on 2 years old, and they just won't give up on the furniture even though I have scratching posts, climbing perches, Feliway and give them tons of attention. They are into everything and this means inside the covers on the furniture. Of course, they are indoor kitties, and I'm tempted -- and don't want to be. My other two kitties are good with the scratching posts.

I am in a tough position right now. My mother will need to move into an elderly community and can only have one cat. She now has 4. One of her cats did belong to me at one time and due to moving I had to let him go and she agreed to take him in. Now it seems I will need to take him back. He is a very loving black male cat. The only thing is he was very destructive when I did have him. My new Fiancé and I have leather furniture and are very concerned with taking him in. We are considering having him declawed. I believe he is about 7 years old. Is this too old to have this done to him? My only other choice is to let him go to a Humane Facility as I have tried several times to find him a home. Please help....I am trying very hard to give him a loving home.

PLEASE don't get your cat declawed. Despite what a vet will tell you, it's very painful. Of course they will tell you it isn't. They want your money. My 13 year old cat was declawed when I adopted him. Now, his front paws are all deformed and he limps all the time. Look at your hands right now. Declawing removes from the FIRST JOINT, not just the claw. Imagine having 1/4 of each one of your fingers cut off. Please don't do this to your animal. Who cares about furniture? Just hang out with other people who love animals. Their couch will be just as raggedy as yours!

Melissa wrote:

I am in a tough position right now. My mother will need to move into an elderly community and can only have one cat. She now has 4. One of her cats did belong to me at one time and due to moving I had to let him go and she agreed to take him in. Now it seems I will need to take him back. He is a very loving black male cat. The only thing is he was very destructive when I did have him. My new Fiancé and I have leather furniture and are very concerned with taking him in. We are considering having him declawed. I believe he is about 7 years old. Is this too old to have this done to him? My only other choice is to let him go to a Humane Facility as I have tried several times to find him a home. Please help....I am trying very hard to give him a loving home.

Hi Melissa, Consider "Soft Paws." They are little plastic caps that your vet can glue onto each claw. It's not expensive, but as the claw grows out, they fall off so you must have them reapplied periodically. They work great. Good luck to you.

Lets get some facts straight, folks!

#1-YES cats do need their claws- ALL OF THEM!( I can't BELIEVE that 20 whole countries ban declaw and there still exist people in the 21st century that pay vets to turn their cats into clubfoots and think it's OK

#2-SMART people learn about a pet before getting one, um, like cats were designed to scratcha nd climb, DUHHHH- get them a CAT TREE- a nice TALL sturdy one- get it BEFORE you get the cat, then maybe they won't eeen WANT to use your furniture!!!

#3- if you don't notice any difference in your cat after declaw you aren't observing, or you never knew the poor thing to begin with (give me a break!)

#4-I can't believe that people who go around abusing and ruining an entire planet can't figure out why cats need their fingers, uh, I mean claws.super DUHHH

#4 You from Texas- well, California always was a little bit ahead of the redneck states a s far as education is concerned. Try educating yourself before you mutilate another cat, OK?

#5 all you dark-Age declaw nutsos ought to get a stuffed toy instead of a real animal, they're moer your speed...

*am I worried about insulting anyone? absolutely NOT-if they're still declaing cats they deserve it. Let's just say I'm saying it for their cats...

Okay, cats get tired of scratch posts and other toys, they then turn to furniture. Would you rather buy new furniture all the time because of them clawing at it, or declaw them? I got all four of my cats declawed and NONE of them have changed. They still are playful, and this sensitivity on their paws is a load, because I mess with their paws and they don't take off or try to bite me. Catsinthecradle must be an animal activist. We are not turning our cats into clubfoots. Are you like this when it comes to the Chinese and binding feet?